Oprah Winfrey cancels involvement with upcoming Apple TV+ documentary

Oprah Winfrey has cancelled her involvement with a documentary on sexual assault and abuse in the music industry, only one month after Apple announced it would debut on Apple TV+ sometime this year.

In a statement to the Hollywood Reporter, she said: ““I have decided that I will no longer be executive producer on The Untitled Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering documentary and it will not air on Apple TV+. First and foremost, I want it to be known that I unequivocally believe and support the women. Their stories deserve to be told and heard. In my opinion, there is more work to be done on the film to illuminate the full scope of what the victims endured, and it has become clear that the filmmakers and I are not aligned in that creative vision. Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering are talented filmmakers. I have great respect for their mission but given the filmmakers’ desire to premiere the film at the Sundance Film Festival before I believe it is complete, I feel it’s best to step aside. I will be working with Time’s Up to support the victims and those impacted by abuse and sexual harassment.”

The film has been among the highest profile doc projects set to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival later this month. Winfrey, who until now had served as an executive producer on the film, planned to air it on Apple TV+ following the festival.

In June 2018, Apple announced a unique, multi-year content partnership with Oprah Winfrey, the producer, actress, talk show host, philanthropist and CEO of OWN. Together, she and Apple will, per a press release, “create original programs that embrace her incomparable ability to connect with audiences around the world.” Winfrey’s projects will be released as part of a lineup of original content from Apple.